The Frequency Content of Ground Vibration

Abstract

A detailed examination of the frequency content of ground vibration is presented in terms of the so-called instantaneous frequency and time–frequency analysis. These techniques, and others, are applied to the surface vibration from a mass blast that triggered a large seismic event and to an earthquake vibration measured in the walls of a massive dam. As an associated issue it is shown that the relationship between peak levels of acceleration and velocity also reveals information on the frequency content of ground vibration. It is demonstrated quite clearly that the popular zero-crossing method cannot be used to obtain the frequency associated with the peak vibration level. In fact it is a false notion that one particular frequency can be associated with the peak level except for the ideal (and impractical) case of a single sinusoid. Realistically, there is a distribution of frequencies associated with the peak level, and a technique of sliding filters is suggested in order to examine the dependence of the peak level upon this frequency content. In light of the sliding filter approach, a new frequency dependent criterion for allowable levels of vibration is presented. This criterion is a completely continuous and well-defined function of frequency and so is more realistic than the current criteria which are only piecewise continuous and based upon an ill-defined frequency. The new criterion is applied to vibration data obtained from quarries and underground operations and is also applied to a model of resonant vibrations in urban dwellings.